EXTRA-TIME with Ciaran Donaghy

There’s not a lot to report this week as we didn’t have a game. The gaffer (Gary Haveron) decided to give us the weekend off and sometimes a little break at this time of year can do teams the world of good.

Tuesday evening’s training session had a bit more energy about it and hopefully we’ll see the benefits on the pitch this weekend.

Thankfully, I wasn’t brought shopping by my wife, which is often the fate that befalls most players when they don’t have a game on a Saturday! Instead I was able to get my football fix!

As part of my job as a Grassroots Development Officer with the Irish Football Association (IFA), I am helping to deliver a Level Two Coaching Award in Lurgan - a course that started on Saturday morning and runs all week, with pitch sessions during the day and lectures in the evening.

Although it’s a very long week, helping other coaches develop is a part of the job that I really enjoy and it offers me the opportunity to meet and work with lots of people - one of whom is Carrick native, Walter Bleakley.

Walter is a Coach Educator with the IFA who helps to deliver these courses He’s knowledgable a man and it’s always a pleasure to work alongside him.

We are back in action this weekend against Coagh United in what will hopefully be our last ‘home’ game at Inver Park.

I am based in Cookstown for the IFA and have worked in the past with some of the Coagh backroom staff, so it will be good to renew acquaintances with them come Saturday. However, when that white line is crossed, friendships will be put aside for 90 minutes and we’ll be going all out to try and keep things interesting at the top of Championship 1!

Ciaran Donaghy